23Aug09

Honduras confines Venezuelan, Argentine diplomats to embasssies

The interim Honduras government has confined Venezuelan and Argentine diplomats to their
embassies in the country and threatened to expel them once they stepped out the gate, the
Foreign Ministry said on Saturday, Xinhua reported.

The restriction is a result of the diplomats' refusal to leave Honduras before the Friday deadline
set by the interim government.

The ministry said in a statement that police would arrest the diplomats once they left the
embassies and deport them afterwards.

Mario Fortin, adviser with the Honduran Foreign Ministry, urged the diplomats to leave the
country immediately.

The expulsion order issued on Aug. 18 by the interim government to demand the departure of
Argentine diplomats was a response to Argentina's expulsion of Honduran ambassador.

The Venezuelan government also received such an ultimatum, but both countries did not
recognize the legitimacy of the post-coup Honduran regime and rejected its expulsion order.

On June 28, a military coup ousted President Zelaya and an interim government led by Roberto
Micheletti was established, causing massive demonstrations.

[Source: Trend, Azrbaycan, 23Aug09]

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